Posts tagged Recreation Department
Boulder: Blind Judo, wheelchair racing, table tennis are coming to CU Sat.
Feb 8th
2012 Paralympic Experience comes to Boulder this weekend
The Parks and Recreation Department’s EXPAND Paralympic Sport Club will host the 2012 Boulder Paralympic Experience in conjunction with U.S. Paralympics, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11, at the University of Colorado Student Recreation Center (Lot 380), UCB 355. Participation is free and open to the public.
The Paralympic Experience introduces people with physical disabilities of all ages to Paralympic sports. In addition to hands-on participation in wheelchair racing, table tennis and judo, the participants will interact with Paralympic athletes and coaches. There will also be educational sessions on Paralympic sports for parents, teachers, coaches, program leaders and rehabilitation specialists.
“EXPAND is excited to host this hands-on event to increase awareness about Paralympic sports,” said Jennifer Heilveil, EXPAND program coordinator. “Participants can meet Paralympic athletes, such as Scott Moore, a three-time U.S. Paralympic medalist in blind judo, and Christina (Ripp) Schwab, a two-time U.S. Paralympic gold medalist in wheelchair basketball, and hear about how sports have improved their overall quality of life. It’s a fun way for kids, potential athletes and people with all abilities to learn more about Paralympic sports.”
“The Paralympic Experience program encourages physical fitness and overall well-being in children with physical disabilities, and we are thrilled to be working with the EXPAND Paralympic Sport Club on this initiative,” said Charlie Huebner, USOC Chief of Paralympics. “Research shows that youth with physical disabilities who participate in physical activity are healthier, more successful in school and have an enhanced quality of life.”
Paralympic Experience events are being held in communities throughout the country. For registration information on the Boulder event, v
Boulder’s Valmont bike park makes short list
Jan 11th
Valmont Bike Park selected as one of three finalists to host 2014 and 2015 USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships
Boulder’s Valmont Bike Park has been selected as one of three finalists to host the 2014 and 2015 USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships. The three potential host cities are Asheville, N.C. (Biltmore Estate), Austin, Texas (Zilker Park), and Boulder (Valmont Bike Park).
“The news that Valmont Bike Park is one of three finalists to host the 2014 and 2015 United States Cyclo-cross National Championships further establishes Valmont Bike Park as an industry leader in bike park construction for both event hosting and daily use,” said Kirk Kincannon, director of the Parks and Recreation Department. “Valmont Bike Park was specifically designed and built to accommodate world-class cycling events like the USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships. We are honored to receive this consideration.”
The United States Cyclo-cross National Championships is expected to bring in at least 1,500 athletes and even more spectators.
“This is exciting news for Boulder—and for all of the organizations who have helped make Valmont Bike Park an exceptional facility,” said Mary Ann Mahoney, executive director of the Boulder Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We would be honored and thrilled to host this amazing event. With the metro area’s concentration of cycling fans, this world-class facility and Boulder’s amazing array of bike shops, restaurants, hiking, biking and running trails, I believe we could deliver a phenomenal experience for both riders and spectators.”
USA Cycling evaluated six potential host cities using various criteria, including: accessibility, community support, course options, technical expertise and the organization’s commitment to volunteer recruitment, marketing and lodging. USA Cycling will conduct site visits in early 2012 before making their final selection.
“We are extremely excited about the quality and depth of the bids we received for this event,” USA Cycling National Events Director Kelli Lusk said. “All of the cities offered spectacular presentations. We’re confident that any of these three cities would make a great host for these two championship events in 2014 and in 2015.”
Weather grounds biking at Boulder’s Valmont Bike Park
Jan 11th
Valmont Bike Park remains closed until further notice
Parks and Recreation Department requests public cooperation in staying off Valmont Bike Park trails to prevent additional damage
Parks and Recreation Department requests public cooperation in staying off Valmont Bike Park trails to prevent additional damage
The Parks and Recreation Department has closed Valmont Bike Park due to poor trail conditions, and is asking for public cooperation to stay off Valmont Bike Park trails to prevent further damage. Recent running, snowboarding, sledding, dog walking and biking on the trails have caused excessive damage to not only the top surfacing material, but to the base layer as well. The maintenance required to repair this damage is costly and time-consuming and will extend the re-opening date of the park due to the extra surfacing maintenance work.
“Our staff is evaluating trail and feature surfacing daily to determine if any areas of the bike park can be opened, and we will notify the public once those areas open,” said Kirk Kincannon, Parks and Recreation Department director. “However, due to moisture deep in the soil and surfacing material, no areas of the park will be opened within the next few days.”
The Boulder Mountainbike Alliance (BMA) also urged the public to refrain from using the trails at this time.
“We need your cooperation to protect the coolest bike park on Planet Earth,” said Jason Vogel, BMA president. “Warm weather does not mean Valmont Bike Park is ready to ride. We are contending with upwelling groundwater freezing subsurface as well as snowcover and snowmelt. These conditions are a perfect storm for destroying the park we’ve all worked so hard to make a reality. BMA urges all park users to respect park closures.”
